New York Giants 2010 Season Preview

Football Betting Lines

08/31/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Memories are short in New York, and the city's sports figures and teams are often judged more on present performance than on past accomplishments. It's a train of thought Tom Coughlin can certainly relate to.

Despite having guided the NFL's Giants to four playoff appearances, two NFC East titles and a Super Bowl victory in a six-year stretch, the meticulous head coach finds himself entering the 2010 campaign on the hot seat following last season's second-half collapse that took New York from feared contender to non-threatening also-ran in the span of 2 1/2 short months. The ending was especially bad, as Big Blue lost its final two games by a combined score of 85-16 to finish off a disappointing 8-8 year that prompted a scalding public tongue-lashing from usually reticent team co-owner John Mara that he termed "not acceptable on any level."

The Giants appeared well on their way to a fifth consecutive postseason trip early on in 2009, winning their first five games against a soft opening portion of the schedule, but dropped eight of the final 11 contests thereafter as a defense that had been the backbone of the club's previous success crumbled down the stretch. New York surrendered 40 or more points in five of those defeats and 427 for the year, the third-highest amount in the league.

After last year's defensive demise, it should be of little surprise that nearly all the Giants' offseason moves were made with the intent of fortifying that side of the ball. New York paid big bucks to lure coveted free-agent safety Antrel Rolle away from Arizona to help shore up a leaky secondary, while accomplished veteran Keith Bulluck was signed in July in an effort to bolster a shaky linebacker corps. New York also used its first four selections in April's draft on defensive players, including a pair of potential building blocks in South Florida pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul and massive East Carolina tackle Linval Joseph.

The unit will also have a new coordinator, with ex-Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell tabbed to replace the outgoing Bill Sheridan. The 47-year-old brings both energy and a strong track record, having overseen a Buffalo 'D' that ranked second in both passing yards allowed and interceptions a year ago.

With an established quarterback in Eli Manning and a talented cast of receivers already in place, the possibility for a turnaround exists, provided both the defense and a once-devastating running game can both regain their prior form. The Giants will also need to stay healthy, something they've had trouble doing during what's been a trying training camp and preseason.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the New York Giants, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 8-8 (3rd, NFC East)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Philadelphia, 23-11, in NFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Tom Coughlin (55-41 in six years with Giants, 123-101 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Kevin Gilbride

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Perry Fewell

OFFENSIVE STAR: Eli Manning, QB (4021 passing yards, 27 TD, 14 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Osi Umenyiora, DE (29 tackles, 7 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 17th rushing, 11th passing, 8th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 14th rushing, 15th passing, 30th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: G Shawn Andrews (from Eagles), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (1st Round, South Florida), DT Linval Joseph (2nd Round, East Carolina), LB Keith Bulluck (from Titans), S Deon Grant (from Seahawks), S Antrel Rolle (from Cardinals), P Matt Dodge (7th Round, East Carolina)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB David Carr (to 49ers), WR Domenik Hixon (out for season/injured), TE Darcy Johnson (to Rams), DT Fred Robbins (to Rams), LB Danny Clark (to Texans), LB Antonio Pierce (released), CB Kevin Dockery (to Rams), S Aaron Rouse (released), S C.C. Brown (to Lions), P Jeff Feagles (retired)

QB: Quarterbacks often receive a lot of blame when a team fails to meet expectations, but it's awfully hard to pin last year's subpar showing on Manning (4021 passing yards, 27 TD, 14 INT). The Super Bowl XLII MVP turned in his best season in 2009, setting career marks for touchdown passes and completion percentage (62.3) in addition to surpassing the 4,000-yard mark for the first time in his six-year tenure. He should further benefit from the move to a brand-new home venue, where the treacherous winds that made the old Giants Stadium a challenge for signal-callers likely won't be as much of an issue. With David Carr leaving for San Francisco via free agency and intended replacement Jim Sorgi (ex-Colts) incurring a year-ending shoulder injury in the preseason, untested 2009 draftee Rhett Bomar is the current backup, though the Giants will surely scour the waiver wire for a more experienced No. 2 man.

RB: The Giants topped the NFL with an average of 157.4 rushing yards per game during their 12-win 2008 season, but that number decreased dramatically as top backs Brandon Jacobs (835 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 6 total TD) and Ahmad Bradshaw (778 rushing yards, 7 TD, 21 receptions) fought through injuries. Jacobs, who rushed for nearly 1,100 yards and scored 15 touchdowns two years ago, seems to have gotten back some burst after undergoing offseason knee surgery, but the 264-pound punisher may still end up ceding No. 1 duties to Bradshaw, a superior receiver and open-field runner. Andre Brown, a fourth- round choice in 2009 who spent his entire rookie year on injured reserve, has made a valiant comeback from an Achilles' tear and could have the edge on pedestrian holdovers D.J. Ware (73 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions) and Gartrell Johnson (43 rushing yards) for the third spot on the depth chart. Whoever carries the ball will be running behind a quality lead blocker in fullback Madison Hedgecock (4 receptions, 1 TD), a second-team All-Pro honoree in 2008 and one of the keys to New York's exploits on the ground that year.

WR/TE: The wide receivers had been the Giants' biggest area of concern heading into last season, but wound up being one of the team's clear strengths and should be for years to come. A young and skilled crop of pass catchers is headlined by fourth-year man Steve Smith (1220 receiving yards, 7 TD), who shattered a franchise record with 107 receptions en route to a well-deserved trip to the Pro Bowl, while 2009 first-round pick Hakeem Nicks (47 receptions, 6 TD) really came on in the second half to emerge as a needed deep threat, finishing his debut season with an average of nearly 17 yards per grab. Third- year pro Mario Manningham (57 receptions, 5 TD) also gives the offense a big- play element, though he still needs work on his hands and consistency, and the club is also excited about the abilities of greenhorns Ramses Barden and Victor Cruz. Barden, a third-round pick a year ago, is raw but offers an inviting red-zone target on a 6-foot-6, 227-pound frame, while undrafted rookie Cruz may have forced his way onto the team with a sensational exhibition season that featured a three-touchdown game against the city-rival Jets. Tight end Kevin Boss (42 receptions, 5 TD) is an underrated blocker who provides Manning with another reliable alternative in the passing game. He'll once again be backed up by Travis Beckum, a still-developing prospect with speed who managed just eight catches as a rookie, with fellow sophomore Bear Pascoe a candidate to stick as an extra blocker.

OL: The G-Men fielded one of the top front walls in football during their championship season of 2007, but age is beginning to take its toll on the five-man group that still remains intact from the Super Bowl squad. Right guard Chris Snee and center Shaun O'Hara are still Pro Bowl-caliber players and among the league's best at their positions, although the latter has been dealing with a chronic ankle condition in the preseason that could affect the 11-year vet's play. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie missed four games due to injuries last year and is showing signs of decline, though the 31-year-old continues to be an above-average run blocker when at full strength. Left tackle David Diehl and left guard Rich Seubert are both coming off down years and may be on short leashes, judging by the options among the reserve ranks. One of those is guard Shawn Andrews, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles from 2005-07 who's appeared in only two games the past two years due to lingering back and mental health issues. New York signed the 27-year-old to an incentive- laden contract in August, and could prove to be an astute pickup if he's healthy and motivated. Tackle William Beatty, a second-round choice in the 2009 draft, showed enough in limited snaps as a rookie to be considered as Manning's future blind-side protector, perhaps as soon as this year.

DL: After ranking at or near the top of the NFL in sacks in former coordinator and current Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo's two years in charge, New York recorded a modest 32 quarterback takedowns under Sheridan's ill-fated one-year watch. Whether Fewell's read-and-react philosophy will better that total remains to be seen, but the Giants certainly possess the pass rushers to trigger an upgrade. Ends Justin Tuck (59 tackles, 6 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (29 tackles, 7 sacks) have both produced double-digit sack totals twice during their career and been to Pro Bowls, while starting right-sider Mathias Kiwanuka (61 tackles, 3 sacks) had eight as a full-timer two years ago. Umenyiora can be a terror coming from the edge when at his best, but the moody veteran is likely to be relegated to a situational rusher due to a hip problem that will eventually require surgery. That helps explain why the team took a chance on the unpolished but incredibly athletic Pierre-Paul, who played just one season at South Florida, with its first-round pick in April. The Giants are also high on the 328-pound Joseph, who's pushing incumbent Barry Cofield (35 tackles, 1 sack) to start at nose tackle alongside 2009 free-agent disappointment Chris Canty (13 tackles, 0.5 sacks). Rocky Bernard (22 tackles, 1 sack), another of last year's underachieving additions, and Jay Alford, out all of last season with an ACL tear, also figure in the rotation.

LB: The Giants will have two new regulars among the linebackers following the injury-induced retirement of middle man and team leader Antonio Pierce and the free-agent exit of strong-sider Danny Clark to Houston. The team is counting on Bulluck (108 tackles, 3 INT), a two-time All-Pro and captain in Tennessee, to fill Clark's shoes and supply needed leadership, but the 33-year-old will be less than nine months removed from ACL surgery at the season's start and may wind up sharing snaps with unproven second-year pro Clint Sintim (20 tackles, 1 sack). Jonathan Goff (25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) has claimed the starting job in the middle with a good camp, although the Vanderbilt product received mixed reviews upon supplanting Pierce late last season. Returning on the weak side is Michael Boley (84 tackles, 1 sack), a high-priced free-agent signee last offseason who failed to make a big impact, but the ex-Falcon's speed and range should suit Fewell's system. Special teams standouts Chase Blackburn (60 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT) and Bryan Kehl (22 tackles) will reprise their backup roles, with 2010 fourth-round selection Phillip Dillard (Nebraska) lending further depth.

DB: Changes to the secondary were inevitable after New York finished 29th in pass efficiency defense and yielded 31 touchdowns through the air last season. The safety play was especially dreadful, which is why the team targeted Rolle (72 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 INT) in free agency. The playmaking converted corner's presence, combined with the hopeful return of Kenny Phillips (13 tackles, 2 INT) from a career-threatening knee injury that knocked the 2008 first-rounder out after just two games, could conceivably turn an obvious weakness into a plus. Ex-Seahawk Deon Grant (78 tackles, 3 INT) was also signed for added insurance, though the 11th-year vet's best days may be behind him. The Giants have the makings of a strong cornerback trio, as starters Corey Webster (51 tackles, 1 INT, 12 PD) and Terrell Thomas (85 tackles, 5 INT, 13 PD) and projected nickel back Aaron Ross (10 tackles) all have good ball skills and are battle-tested.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Giants were forced to make some alterations to this area as well due to the retirement of ageless punter Jeff Feagles and a season-ending ACL tear return man Domenik Hixon suffered during mini-camp. The reserve receiver's loss is a significant blow, as he ranked second in the NFL with a 15.1 average on punt returns last year. Ross, an excellent punt returner as a collegian, will likely get first crack at those duties, with Brown and Ware the front-runners to take back kicks. Matt Dodge (East Carolina), a seventh- round pick in April's draft, is set to take over for Feagles and offers a much stronger leg than his predecessor, but lacks the wily old pro's trademark touch. Kicker Lawrence Tynes does return and is coming off a solid season in which he connected on 27-of-32 field goal tries, including an impressive 6- of-7 from beyond 40 yards, while long snapper Zak DeOssie (7 tackles) made the Pro Bowl two years ago and can fill in at linebacker in a pinch.

PROGNOSIS: With a dangerous offense and a defense that can't possibly be as bad as last season's disaster, the Giants appear to be in position to improve on the past year's .500 mark and get back in the playoff hunt. Maybe. An inordinate amount of injuries the team sustained over the summer is an ominous sign and the schedule is a killer, with road dates against 2009 powerhouses Indianapolis, Minnesota and Green Bay on the docket in addition to the challenging division slate. The Giants may be a more complete team than last year's edition, but it may not show in the overall results.